the world
Michelle Ye pye2@ncsu.edu 919.917.4808
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North Carolina State University Bachelors of Landscape Architecture www.michelle-ye-lar.com
Design Philosophy Ask questions of everyone and everything. Don’t let your imagination be limited by what others say is possible. Roll in the nitty-gritty details until you make it possible. See the beauty in each piece of the puzzle. Think about how it fits into a larger context Embrace the challenge of complex, intertwining systems. Involve others in the design process. The world is a collaborative project each one of us has a part in.
Table of Contents LARGE-SCALE URBAN DESIGN + PLANNING p2 Fresh Philly p6 Gravitate SQ DETAIL-ORIENTED DESIGN p10 raleigh[ ]space Parklet p14 Owen’s Refuge Design + Build ECOLOGICAL DESIGN p18 Botic Community Park p22 Planting Design INFLUENCING URBAN SPACES p24 Charlotte Rail Trail p25 Uptown Charlotte Cafe Study
Fresh Philly
Better Philadelphia Design Competition v Fall 2015 Team Members: Ryan Cornett, Austin Roland Mantua/Belmont neighborhoods of West Philadelphia, PA FOCUSING ON HEALTH u To target the issue of public health, we provide recommendations for each of three factors: Home + Community, Access to Recreation, and Access to Food. What physical design interventions can be paired with policy changes to create healthy neighborhoods in a disadvantaged area?
Home + Community
Access to Recreation
Access to Food
Main Corridors Retail Home + Community Access to Recreation Access to Food Phase III Blight Treatment Selected Interventions
PHASING p Phase I: Implementing mixeduse, transit-oriented development along the main corridor.
Main Corridor Perspective
Phase II: Targeting critical blocks for centers of community services, recreation, and food production. v
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Phase III: Filling in vacant lots and areas of extreme blight with housing and neighborhood parks.
N 41st St
SYNTHESIS MAP t The combination of interventions targeting our three core issues, along with adding mixed-use retail opportunitites on the main corridor of Lancasster Ave. Main Corridors Retail Home + Community Access to Recreation Access to Food e
ord Av
Haverf
Phase III Blight Treatment Selected Interventions Main Corridor Perspective
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TEAM EFFORT I was responsible for part of the research and writing, coordinating graphics and layout, producing the main corridor rendering, and redesigning the Mantua Haverford Community Center.
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MAIN CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION p Lancaster Avenue is an important connector between Mantua/Belmont and surrounding institutions. By filling in unused or rundown buildings and lots along the street with retail, mixed use developments, mixed income housing, and public space, the corridor will become a thriving vein of economic and social activity. v
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Parking Lot Parking Lot Existing Community Center Existing Community Center
Dilapidated Houses Unmanaged Land Dilapidated Houses Unmanaged Land
Emergency + Public Housing
Recreation Space Recreation Space Community Space Library Kitchen Community Space Library Kitchen
Parking Lot/ Basketball Court Parking Lot/ Basketball Court
Emergency + Public Housing Community Garden Community Garden
Playground Playground
Gathering + Event Space Farmer’s Market Gathering + Event Space Bussing/Carpool Farmer’s Market Bussing/Carpool
Education + Daycare Bikeshare + Bike Service Station Education + Daycare Bikeshare + Bike Service Station
MANTUA HAVERFORD COMMUNITY CENTER p By utilitzing adjacent lots currently filled with dilapidated houses, the center will be able to provide a wider range of services to the residents and function as a community gathering space. v
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Gravitate SQ
Global Schindler Award Competition v Winter 2014 v Team Members: Ryan Cornett Sungang-Qingshuihe neighborhood of Shenzhen, China CULTURE + CONTEXT q The neighborhood of SungangQingshuihe is located near the border of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, both industrial super-cities. As a result, there are numerous urban villages in the area separated by warehouses and highways.
MOBILITY AS FRAMEWORK t Our solution for the site is to create a primary pedestrian boulevard connecting the North and the South, supported by an urban greenway system and alternative transportation routes to maximize residents’ mobility.
Shenzhen SQ Hong Kong Gravitational Centers Pedestrian Boulevard Urban Greenway Bus Lines Metro Lines Commercial Use Mixed Use
High Speed Rail Rail Highway
Urban Villages
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MASTERPLAN t To break the dominance of vehicles in the neighborhood, priority is given to the pedestrian corridor connecting the two urban cores. The greenway system traverses through the urban villages to give residence easy access to work and play. A large wetland buffer is maintained by the lake to allow for pollution remediation.
How do we connect dense urban villages separated by industrial use over time?
DELEGATING ROLES My responsibilities on the project team included producing the masterplan, system diagrams, neighborhood schematics, graphic layout and coordination, sections, research, and writing. v
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Outbound Bus Routes SQ Bus Routes Main Streets
Secondary Circulators
Neighborhood Connectors
Neighborhood Streets CREATING A HIERARCHY p Traffic and congestion is a major problem in this city. We propose a reduction of lane use in favor of increasing alternative transportation methods such as bus, bike, and walking.
Major Outbound Road Bus Only Road
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INCREASING MOBILITY p The routes and stops we establish ensure that each resident is within a 5 minute walk of a bus stop. This connectivity is critical to the most disadvantaged populations with limited mobility or cannot afford other forms of transportation.
URBAN AGRICULTURE q To utilize built area and provide fresh, accessible food to citizens, aquaponics systems can be implemented in buildings. This method of sustainable agriculture requires very few inputs and is highly efficient.
What are creative ways we can repurpose existing infrastructure?
Cultural/Recreation Commercial/Office Mixed Use Healthcare/Education Residential Utilities/Transport Warehouses
BUILDING USE p Many of the old warehouses in the area are repurposed into mixed-use buildings. Activity is concentrated in the commercial and cultural cores with decreasing height out toward the urban villages to provide appropriate living environments. v
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raleigh[ ]space Parklet Construction Materials & Methods v Summer 2014 Team Members: Josh Leab, Sadie Walters Downtown Raleigh, NC
LEADING CHANGE q raleigh[ ]space is a crowdsourced project that brought Raleigh its first downtown parklet. We were challenged to create proposals for turning two parking spaces into people spaces.
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ARTISTIC VISION t The client wanted spaces that could support multiple forms of rotating art displays. My study model creates opportunities to display sculpture, 2D art, lighting, urban agriculture, and performance art in the same small space.
STUDY MODELS t Each individual of our team created a different study model as an initial concept. The models were then presented to a panel of stakeholders. v
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How can we turn everyday furnishing elements into a streetside gallery?
PUBLIC INTERACTION q The parklet invites different users to interact in one small space, such as a biker parking his bike, a man giving his dog some water, and a woman sitting down with her morning coffee.
A UNIFIED CONCEPT u Our individual ideas were then combined into a team composite model with elements that the clients liked from each of our designs. Our final model was based on the idea of weaving - as a nod to Raleigh’s artisan history and the desire to bring many different people together in one space. v
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CREATING THE MOCKUP t To get a sense of how the space would feel and what materials could be used to construct the parklet, we built a 3’x3’x3’ to-scale section of our design. FINAL MOCKUP u We intended to capture as much of the true material essence of our proposal as we could. People are able to sit on the bench section to feel what it would be like to be in the space. v
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Design+Build Studio
Owen’s Refuge
v Spring 2015 v Team Members: Classmates of Studio NCSU Central Campus, Raleigh, NC
ISSUES + OPPORTUNITIES q The site for our Design + Build studio was the area directly outside of Owen residence hall on NC State’s campus. Due to poor design, the site had many drainage problems, leading to bare soils and dangerous puddles on the patio. TEAMWORK p Each team of 2-3 students was responsible for different parts of the process, but we all participated in the overall design, review, and construction. I was part of the Details team and primarily responsible for the paving and site furnishings.
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS u We engaged with various campus stakeholders, including University Housing, Office of the University Architect, Landscape Construction Services, Grounds Management, and students.
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT p The teams ideated and presented design alternatives to stakeholders. We addressed their concerns and revisited our designs based on their feedback. From there, we narrowed down the final design and began creating construction documents for approval prior to breaking ground. The entire process from existing to finished site took 15 weeks.
PAVING DETAILS t Each different edge condition in the layout had to be addressed in the details. For guidance, I looked for examples of brick patterns in the envrionment to determine the best way to direct contractors to lay our bricks.
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SITE FURNISHINGS u We refurbished and reinstalled existing site furnishings to work with our design. All tables and benches were aligned, levelled, and measured to correct height from finished grade before footers were poured. Additional bike racks were installed to encourage use of alternative transportation.
USING LOCAL MATERIALS t Evaluating material choices from local suppliers helped us make appealing and sustainable design decisions. v
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ADAPTING ON SITE q As we worked out in the field with our paving contractors, we had to quickly make changes to our design based on site conditions and issue bulletin drawings when contractors needed more clarification.
OWEN’S REFUGE u We successfully transformed the site into an attractive, functional, and sustainable gathering place for the NC State’s central campus.
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Botič Community Park Prague International Studio v Fall 2014 Prague 4, Prague, Czech Republic
THE VALUE OF NATURE q The site is located next to the Botič Creek, an important waterway flowing through Prague, which provided an opportunity to bring nature back into the urban fabric. The current creek is unclean and inaccessible.
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EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION u Transformation of the site over time from green riparian zone into a channelled urban creek. It is currently home to an elementary school, playground, greenway, and an abandoned warehouse. The redesign will open up the space for the community as well as reintroduce lost riparian zones.
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LAND USE p Residential Warehouse/Office Public Facility Green Space Mixed Use Railroad Botič Creek
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SITE SECTION ANALYSIS p
COMPACTING NATURE p The loss of a natural, meandering water flow causes more flooding and less water filtration.
68 54 Children Women
35 Men
10 Dogs
3 Bikes
USER OBSERVATIONp The design must provide safety, recreation, and education for its main users, children and women. DISCONNECTED GREEN p Different types of green spaces within one mile of our residence - forests, parks, and open green space.
How do we balance the need for development with the need to preserve natural resources within an urban setting?
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INITIAL SITE CONCEPT q The site is envisioned to become a community resource, with an extended multi-level floodplain and active recreation space.
SITE PLAN u The Botič Creek is opened up with steps leading down to the water. Abandoned warehouses are converted into a schoolyard adjacent to a multi-use playground. Other functions include a skate park, gathering space, community garden, event space, and soccer field.
COMMUNITY ENTRANCE p
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GARDEN AND PLAYGROUND p v
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LOCAL WATER QUALITY u The site is designed to act as a filtration system and flood barrier for the neighboring blocks.
BIORETENTION AREA q Use of native plants to slow down runoff and provide a natural education area. Inlet
Overflow Catchbasin
10m 8 6
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Dry Area 0
Moist Area
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Wet Area
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Moist Area Dry Area 25
30m
10m
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WIDENING THE CREEK u The opening up of the creek allows the water to slow down and provide room for wildlife habitats. It also provides educational and recreational opportunities to the users.
4 Old Topo Flood Level
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Planting Design Planting Design v Fall 2014 Raleigh, NC
CHARTER SQUARE PLAZA p This design for a small public plaza between two buildings in downtown Raleigh features a simple plant color palette that highlights different areas during different times of the year. v
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JC RAULSTON ARBORETUM t Working in a team with Peggy Huang and Lauren Sobnosky, we designed an edible garden for JC Raulston. I was responsible for drafting our design in AutoCAD and rendering the plan.
How will the plant selections change the user experience over time? WEHNER RESIDENCE q A quick study on how a proposed front yard featuring a deodar cedar might look at the time of planting, in ten years, and in thirty years.
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Charlotte Rail Trail
Charlotte Center City Partners Internship Charlotte, NC PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN q The Public Art Master Plan is part of a collaborative effort to introduce public art along the Rail Trail, an urban linear park. This document is crucial in definining the implementation process and inspiring artists to participate.
VERTICAL SURFACES
ART OPPORTUNITIES q Part of this document included mapping spaces based on the type of artwork it could support. Each specific spot along the Trail was identified on a plan. Then, I provided current site conditions and examples of possible artwork. (Example shown of a utility box by Mona Caron.)
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E Hill St
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W 8th St DISCOVERY PLACE
THE GREEN
WELLS FARGO HISTORY
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MUSEUM
NC DANCE THEATRE AND MCCOLL CENTER FOR VISUAL ART
SPIRIT SQ
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WESTIN
STONEWALL STATION CAMBRIDGE APARTMENTS
W 9th St
W 8th St
W 7th St
W 5th St
W 6th St
W 4th St
W 3rd St
Brevard Ct
W Martin Luther King Jr Bv
Bv W Carson
E Palmer St
HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER
Morehead Square Dr
CARSON ST STATION
CONVENTION CENTER
MAIN LIBRARY
EXISTING PLAZA
N College St LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTH
38 39 40 CTC
7TH ST STATION CTC STATION
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PLAZA
LEVINE BUILDING
IMAGINON
E 7th St
TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA
1ST WARD PARK
N Brevard St
UNCC
E Martin Luther King Jr Bv
St E 9th St
Lexington Av
N Caldwell
S Davidson
Av
Temple ton Av
Buttern ut Ct
THE PARK
St
First
N Davidson St
CITY LOOP
6
NASCAR PLAZA
E 8th St
NASCAR MUSEUM
E 6th St
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3RD ST/ CONVENTION CENTER STATION E 4th St
36
E 3rd St
Av Arlington
32
Mt Vernon
E Park Av
Berkeley Av
5
30
S Caldwell St
Rensselaer Av
East Bv
E Worthington Av
Mcdonald Av
Magnolia Av
E Kingston Av
e Bv nlin
Iverson Wy
Euclid Av
CAMDEN SQUARE
4
N Church St
EPICENTRE
Ol Pa msted rk Pl
Marsh Rd
Rd ystone Gre
Mai
Lancaster St
New Bern
3
BECHTLER MUSEUM
E 5th St
rst Rd
Elmhu
Hartford Av
2
KNIGHT THEATRE
S Brevard St
Lyndhurst Av
SxSE
St
Rd
n St
Atherto
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MINT MUSEUM
Cleveland Av h Pl ut er So sela ns Re
ton
ll Pl
Marsha
E Catherine St
St
Clan
Euclid Av
S College St
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W Hill
W Catherine St
e Av
New Bern
Atherton Heights Ln
Southend Dr
SOUTHBOROUGH LOWE’S
BLAND ST STATION
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17 LONG ANIMAL HOSPITAL
D EFIEL ER SEDG CENT PING SHOP
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EX. CY
N Poplar St
ROMARE BEARDEN PARK
S Church St
W Palmer St
W Bland St
Pl
15
12 13 ON LOFTS ATHERT
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CM
TROLLEY BARN
Wilcox St
Penn St
ton Av thing
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G EXISTIN PLAZA
7
Haverford Pl
Melbourne Ct
EAST/WEST BLVD STATION
DESIGNR CENTE
ON ATHERT MILL
10
PUBLIX END SOUTH
CAMDEN SOUTHLINE
25
21
CAMDEN GALLERY
St
LOSO 1
Winona St
Av
Bv
ton Av W Kings
West
St
W Wor
ett
gg
St
rve
Ironsid
Bv
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9
Ct
IELD SEDGEF CENTER NG SHOPPI
LOSO
St
Mainline
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THE SILOS AT SOUTH END
COLONIAL GRAND @ SOUTH END
Station
Dunavant
NEW BERN STATION
CATS VMF
Weston St
W Park
Do
rt pa
Ram
St
Me
Fairwood Av
FOUNTAINS AT NEW BERN STATION
St
W Summit Av
Rd
Basin St
Brookhill
Av
Benjamin St
Fairwood
blood
ins
wk
Ha
Foster Av
Young
TRIPLE C
Pelton
PARK AND KINGSTON APARTMENTS
CAMDEN STUDIOS
Av
Ct
n Av
e Park
Herma
Trad
ution St
Distrib
SOUTH CHURCH ST SITE
Winnifred St
St
Foster
May St
SOUTH TRYON COMMUNITY CENTER
Griffith
How do we increase the Rail Trail’s appeal and uniqueness 5 to continue building a park 6that 4 1 2 truly belongs to Charlotteans? 3
OSED PROP UNITY COMM PARK
Lincoln St
CHURCH & SUMMIT APARTMENTS
Kee Ct
tt St Abbo
Norfolk Av
W 1st St
PHYSICAL OPPORTUNITIES
Baltimore Av
Bank St
Summer 2015
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UPTOWN
Outdoor Café Study
Charlotte Center City Partners Internship Charlotte, NC
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Summer 2015
A MEASURE OF URBAN LIFE q I led an independent study of the cafes in Uptown Charlotte to establish a snapshot of street life through the lens of its prominent urban activities. 29
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40%
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16 22%
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21%
17%
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1st Ward
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
4th Ward
Number of Cafés by Ward 44% Restaurants
1st Ward
31%Hotel Shared/Other Coffeeshop
13%BarBars
6% Shared/Other Coffeeshops Restaurant
6% Hotels
4th Ward
58% Restaurants 25% Shared/Other 17% Bars
Types of Café Uses
Café location by size BREAKING DOWN THE DATA t The data gathered was analysed in several ways to understand the complex relationships between spatial context and urban activity. This will serve as a benchmark for measuring future development. v
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Based on the observations, where are the major holes in the urban fabric?